LNE signalling centre to be built in York

June 20, 2012

York is to get a new rail operating centre and workforce development facility on land close to York station.

Phil Verster, route managing director for Network Rail’s London North Eastern route, said: ‘The centres will retain jobs in the city and, over time, see all of our rail operations for the LNE route consolidated on this site.

‘The operating centre is the largest of just 14 proposed centres across Britain and will bring the expertise and technology we need to operate the route into a single location. Meanwhile the investment in modern training facilities will make sure our rail employees remain among the best in the world.’

The York centre is likely to control all rail operations on the east coast in time, as smaller signalling centres across the country are consolidated into 14 national ones.

Meanwhile, foundations for the North Eastern Railway roundhouses – used to service steam trains – have been uncovered by Network Rail in York.

The roundhouses were abandoned in the 1960s and are believed to date from around 1864.